Cylinder door latch



July 3, 192s.-

D. BELL y CYLINDER DOOR LATCH Filed Aug. 25, 1926 EE Pavie] eZZ Patented July 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL BELL, or CHICAGO, ILLINoIs, AssIGNOR To INvINcIIaLn` LAUNDRY EQUII- MENT co., or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A coRrORArIoN `OI' ILLINOIS.

CYLINDER DOOR LATCH.

`appiiaauon fried `August 25, .1926. serial N5. 131,338.

.Thisinvention relates to a cylinder door latch and it is an object of this invention to provide a latch which can be readily manipulated by the fingers of an operator and held in unlocked position while the cylinder door is being`opened.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which 1llustrate a preferred embodiment of this 1nvention and in which similar reference numerals relier to similar `features in the different views:

Figure l is a fragmentary plan view of a rotating cylinder.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the latch for latching the door of the cylinder.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view upon the line' III-III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view upon the line IV-IV of Figure Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view upon the line Ve-V of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a slight modification of the latch.

Figure 7 an enlargedsectional view upon the line VIL-VII of Figure 6.`

As: shown on the drawings: In referring to the drawings there 1s shown a portion of a cylinder l which mayl be a washing cylinder or a drying cylinder.

This cylinder' is shown as equipped with a pair oit sliding doors 2 each door having a pair of latches 3.

Each latch consists of a casing 4 provided with laterally extending attaching flanges 5 by means of which it may be bolted to a cylinder door, the body of the casing eX- tending into a suitable recess in the top of the door. Within `each casing there is a sliding or latch bolt 6 which extends through a suitable opening formed in one end of the casing adjacent the top thereof. It will be noted that the bolt consists of a base portion 6e which slides on the bottom of the casing, a rising flange Gbwhich carries the engaging portion 6 of the bolt and a vertical rib 6d which extends rearwardly from the engaging portion 6c and verges into a transverse handle Or finger piece 7 or 7a. arcuate contour in vertical direction so that the fingers of a person may readily engage The linger piece 7 is shown as ofy in such arcuate portion. The finger piece 7 which is shown in Figures 6 and y7 is transvers-rely arcuate. j Projecting rearwardly from the lingerpie'ce there is a lug 8 on the bolt. This lug is adapted to be engaged by the end of a coil spring 9 which is positioned between the end of the lug and the `end et' the housing. A cover plate 10 is bolted to the bottom of the casing 4 at therear end thereof. `This cover plate 10 is provided with an intermediate raised portion l0 to provide a suitable guide housing for the spring 9 and the lug 8 as shown in Figures 3 and 7. This cover plate 10 is provided with a rising fiange 1 1 at its front end which forms an abutment for the fingers of the operator when sliding the bolt 6 rearwardly. I

It will be noted that each door is provoded with two latches and in order to open the door, the opera-tor will use his fingers and thumb of each hand for engaging the abutment l1 and the finger piece 7 or 7, depending upon which one is used. The fingers will engage the abutment l1 and the thumb will engage the abutment 7 of one latch, while the thumb will engage the abutvment 1l and the fingers will engage the fin ger piece of the other latch. By drawing the fingers and thumbs together, the bolts may be withdrawn from suitable recesses formedin the adjacent parts of the cylinder and as soon as the bolts are withdrawn, the operator without releasing his fingers may slide the cover with respect to the cylinder for opening or closing the doorway therebeneath. As soon as the operator releases his fingers from the abutment l1 and the finger piece `of the bolt, the spring 9 will become eil'ective for projecting the bolts against the wall of the guideway against which the sliding doors are mounted or into suitable recesses therein. Such recesses are usually placed at proper locations for locking the door in closed position and locking the same in open position.

It will be noted that the abutment 11 and finger pieces 7 or 7 are located within the casing and do not project thereabove so that there are no projecting parts above the latch casings. Consequently there would be no damage or injury caused by any portions of the latch during the rotation of the cylinder.

I am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a cylinder latch, a casing, a latch bolt slidable in said casing, said latch bolt having a finger piece and a lug projecting rearwardly of said finger piece, a cover plate secured to the bottom of the casing and having an upwardly offset portion defining a guideway for receiving said lug, and a spring confined in said guideway at the rear end of said lug, said. cover having an abutment adjacent said finger piece whereby the operator may grasp said finger piece and abutment for withdrawing said bolt.

2. In a cylinder latch, a casing, a latch bolt havin an elevated nose slidable in said casing an having an arcuate linger piece and a lug rearwardly of said finger piece, a .cover secured to the bottom of the casing and having an intermediate raised portion vforming a guideway for receiving said lug,

a spring in said guideway acting against the rear of said lug, said cover having an abutment for co-operating with said finger piece whereby the latch bolt may be withdrawn by the fingers of the operator.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

DANIEL BELL. 

